Pediatricians urge caution with babies in heat

With temperatures staying high, an area doctor has reminded parents that young babies need extra protection from the summer heat.

Dr. Sarah Kelley of Shoals Pediatric Group advised parents with babies younger than six months should not be given water, even on very hot days.

Giving water to infants can cause dangerous changes in the body’s sodium levels because their kidneys are not developed enough to process extra water, according to Kelley.

Kidneys of newborns are much smaller and less developed than adult kidneys, making it easier for a baby’s body to become overloaded with water. If sodium levels drop too low, it can lead to seizures, coma, permanent brain damage or death.

Instead of giving water, she suggested parents feed babies breast milk or formula more often if needed and keep them as cool as possible.

Kelley advised the best way to protect infants is to keep them indoors during the hottest parts of the day or, if outside, keep them in the shade.

Parents are also being warned not to place blankets or covers over infant car seat carriers.

While some caregivers use covers to block the sun, Kelley says blankets can trap heat around the baby and make the temperature inside the carrier much hotter. She said this can increase the risk of overheating for children of any age.

One of the biggest dangers during the summer is leaving a child inside a vehicle.

The temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly, and a child’s body heats up much faster than an adult’s.